What Are Some Cultural Drivers? Introduction to Time Orientation

This dimension is multi-faceted. While it is easier to look at organizations that have long term vs. short term orientation (for example, the drive to make the quarterly numbers in US American businesses) – it is less obvious when we talk about this orientation in terms of people. Sometimes this same approach is seen in the way people view doing things fast (Is fast and not exactly correct better than 100% correct even if it is late?). Frankly, I’d like my paycheck to be 100% accurate and my electricity to be available 100% of the time.

What Are Some Cultural Drivers? Introduction to Achievement

Too many people who teach about this dimension talk about Quality of Life vs. Achievement incorrectly. Learners come back with – hey I care about my quality of life and I also want to achieve. They have a difficult time getting the distinction between what Geert Hofstede initially called Masculinity/Femininity.

What Are Some Cultural Drivers? Introduction to Certainty

Certainty is defined as the extent to which the members of a culture feel threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations. Please notice that the word RISK is nowhere in this definition. Certainty is not about risk avoidance, but it is about the degree to which people are comfortable with rules and regulations, or are comfortable in ambiguous situations.

What Are Some Cultural Drivers? Introduction to Power Distance

Power Distance informs us about dependence relationships within a country. It is important to remember that it is the expectations and value system of the less powerful members of a society that determine the nature of boss-subordinate relationships. Power Distance can be defined as the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organizations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally.